UPPER MACUNGIE TWP., Pa. — Short of a transformation of America’s health care system, the patient — the American people — may be headed for life support.
That was the message delivered by Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and former TV medical show host, at the Greater Lehigh Valley Healthcare Summit 2025 at the Aster Event Center on Friday.
“Health care expenses are growing two times the size of the general economy,” Oz told about 200 attendees that included health care professionals, business leaders and community stakeholders.
"And the president feels so passionately this needs to happen with health care in this country. And it's going to make some waves, and it's going to require some challenges."Dr. Mehmet Oz, on changes to healthcare in America
“So right now, we're at about 8 percent growth rate," Oz said. "The general economy GDP is less than 4 percent. That's not sustainable.
"Despite that rapid increase, we are already the number one payer in the world per capita by far. In fact, we're more than twice as much as any other developed country per capita in health care expenses.
“Despite that, our life expectancy continues to drop. We need to address these hazards.
"And the president feels so passionately this needs to happen with health care in this country. And it's going to make some waves, and it's going to require some challenges."
The summit, sponsored by the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, was held to explore the future of care delivery with clarity, collaboration and a shared commitment to strengthening the well-being of the Lehigh Valley.
Outside, protesters gathered
While Oz thumped the bass drum for health care change, protestErs outside the Aster Center thumped their drum in opposition of Oz, his policies and his visit to the Lehigh Valley.
Prior to Oz’s appearance in Allentown, area LGBTQ+ groups implored the chamber to cancel his visit, but to no avail.
“Through the passage of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, an estimated 319,000 Pennsylvanians are going to lose access to Medicaid. And they are supervising the highest ever increases in Affordable Care Act costs."Corinne Goodwin, Trans Equity Project executive director
A heavy law enforcement presence was stationed throughout the area of the hotel and protest site along Grange Street, just off the hotel site.
Dozens of protesters, many affiliated with or supporters of the Eastern PA Trans Equity Project, held signs, waved rainbow flags and chanted, “Hey, hey/Ho, ho!/Dr. Oz has got to go!”
Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk braved the frigid weather to meet with the protesters.
“We’re here to protest Dr. Oz and the Trump administration, as well as the chamber’s decision to tacitly endorse their policies by bringing Dr. Oz here to Allentown,” said Corinne Goodwin, Trans Equity Project executive director.
“Through the passage of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill, an estimated 319,000 Pennsylvanians are going to lose access to Medicaid.
"And they are supervising the highest ever increases in Affordable Care Act costs.
'Why we're out here today'
Oz, who oversees Medicare, Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage, this year announced Medicaid dollars would not pay for gender reassignment surgeries or hormone treatments for minors.
Earlier this year, he described gender-affirming care for minors as procedures that can cause permanent, irreversible harm, including sterilization.
“Here in the Lehigh Valley, you look at transgender healthcare where (the Trump Administration) has threatened every single major healthcare network and in the country to stop providing trans-affirming, trans life-saving healthcare for people under the age of 19."Corinne Goodwin, Eastern PA Trans Equity Project executive director
“Here in the Lehigh Valley, you look at transgender health care where [the Trump administration] has threatened every single major health care network in the country to stop providing trans-affirming, trans life-saving healthcare for people under the age of 19," Goodwin said.
“So if you’re old enough to vote and go to war, you’re apparently not old enough to make a decision about your health care. That’s why we’re out here today.”
Goodwin also condemned Oz and the Trump administration for cutting billions of dollars from HIV funding, research and health care throughout the nation.
“We have local organizations that have lost funding for HIV and STD and STI education," she said. "And in one case it put them out of business. That’s why we’re here today.”
Cost strategies, questionable past
Speaking for about 30 minutes, Oz touched on numerous strategies the Trump administration will implement to lower healthc are costs.
Among them is Prior Authorization Change. In June, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a voluntary agreement with major health insurers, including Aetna, Cigna, Humana and UnitedHealthcare, to reform the prior authorization process across commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid Managed Care plans.
Oz also celebrated the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion federal initiative designed to empower states to overhaul rural health care access, quality and outcomes by addressing specific challenges.
They include workforce shortage, technology gaps, innovative care models, chronic disease and behavioral health.
States applied for the funding with detailed plans for state-driven solutions, and will get funding from 2026 to 2030 to build sustainable rural healthcare ecosystems.
Funding will be distributed at month’s end.
Several protesters voiced skepticism of any of Oz’s health care solutions, given his history of unproven claims of miracle cancer preventions, weight loss products and that hydroxychloroquine is an effective treatment for COVID-19.
“Then we find out Oz owns stock in the companies that make and sell the drug,” one protester said. “How can you believe anything he says?
“Why did they bring him here?”
